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US Targets Myanmar Rare Earths in Secret Talks to Counter China
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News18•16-10-2026, 17:28
US Targets Myanmar Rare Earths in Secret Talks to Counter China
- •The United States is holding secret talks with Myanmar military leadership in Tokyo to secure access to rare earth minerals.
- •China currently dominates the global supply chain for heavy rare earth elements essential for electric vehicles and modern technology.
- •A major challenge for the US is that key rare earth mines in Myanmar are controlled by armed ethnic groups like the Kachin Independence Army.
- •Myanmar lacks the capacity to process these minerals independently, meaning they are usually sent to China for refinement.
- •India is also eyeing Myanmar mineral resources and exploring ways to obtain samples from mines controlled by insurgent groups.
Key Questions Answered
The United States is engaging in secret talks with Myanmar's military rulers to counter China's dominance over critical rare earth mineral supplies and address issues like online scam networks and the release of an American businessman.
The key rare earth mining regions in Kachin State near the Chinese border, including the Chipwi-Pangwa area, are controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an armed ethnic organization fighting the Myanmar military.
India has actively explored cooperation with Myanmar to secure critical minerals for electric vehicles and defense needs, with Indian delegations visiting the country and state-backed firms examining potential rare earth samples.
